My stay abroad in ParisA time full of valuable experiences
“Paris is like a good wine - the longer you stay, the better it gets. Working in the city of love is an experience that everyone should have.”
August 16, 2024, Maurice Unger
My exciting journey on the TGV from Karlsruhe to Paris began on February 10. The prospect of living alone in a foreign country for seven weeks gave me a little stomachache at first. But the anticipation outweighed this, as I was excited about the cultural and linguistic differences in our neighboring country.
After arriving in Paris, I made my way to my Airbnb in Garches, a charming suburb that would be my home for the next few weeks. On my first Monday morning in Paris, I stood in front of the Rutronik office in La Celle St. Cloud. My new colleagues gave me a warm welcome. Thanks to a previous student exchange in France, I was no stranger to the French language, which helped me to settle in and communicate quickly. I was soon able to do without English, with a few exceptions. is something I will miss - unfortunately we don't have that in Germany.
In the office, I had the opportunity to get to know different departments. It was fascinating to see how different the working methods and mentalities were compared to Germany. Here, the working day didn't start until after 9 a.m. - an unusual experience for me as a German. My colleagues were warm and friendly and often invited me to go out for lunch together. I will particularly miss the crêperies in Paris - unfortunately we don't have anything like that in Germany.
In addition to my work, I used the time to explore the beautiful city of Paris. Thanks to the perfect location of my Airbnb, I was able to travel to the city center in just 35 minutes by train and was in the office in La Celle St. Cloud in less than 10 minutes. In addition to the classic sights such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, I also discovered the city's different neighborhoods. I experienced Paris not just as a tourist for a few days, but more intensively and authentically.
These seven weeks in Paris were really wonderful. It was definitely a challenge to live alone for so long, but I learned an incredible amount. The warm and incredibly friendly colleagues helped to make this time unforgettable and shaped my dual studies. Paris, the city of love, will always have a special place in my heart. À bientôt Paris!ht.
